In coaching circles, the pre-snap penalty is the equivalent of missing a tap-in putt. They just shouldn't happen. In that regard, the Vikings obviously have smiles throughout their coaching staff. Because the Vikings lead the league in fewest pre-snap penalties with two. A year ago, the Vikings were 1-4 and had 38 penalties, including eight offensive pre-snap penalties. Having four times the pre-snap penalties needlessly stalled a lot of drives prematurely.

As for all penalties, only three of the teams that have played five games have fewer than the Vikings' total of 27. Atlanta, 5-0 and the team the Vikings offense is modeled after, has just 16 penalties. Carolina has 25, and the New York Giants have 26.

Frazier: "We are trying to adhere to what we want our identity to be as a football team. We want to be a smart football team, want to be a tough football team, want to be a disciplined football team. We have a lot of work ahead of us, there's no question about it, but we saw some things in that ballgame [against the 49ers] that gives us some hope that we're definitely headed in the right direction."

Pre-snap penalties are probably more important for this team than any other in the league. When you don't make big passing plays down the field, you need to keep the down and distance situation in your favor._________________

In 2011, the Vikings were the 10th-most penalized team in the NFL, getting flagged 109 times for 908 yards. This year, their 75 penalties are the fourth-fewest in the league, and they've cost the Vikings just 680 yards.

What changed? The Vikings spent more time hearing from referees during the week so they'd hear less from them on Sundays.

Coach Leslie Frazier said he approached the Vikings' ownership group before the season about hiring referees to officiate practices, after he'd got the idea from the coach of another team. The owners were receptive to the idea, and Frazier believes it's one of the biggest reasons the Vikings' penalty numbers are so much better.

In 2011, the Vikings were the 10th-most penalized team in the NFL, getting flagged 109 times for 908 yards. This year, their 75 penalties are the fourth-fewest in the league, and they've cost the Vikings just 680 yards.

What changed? The Vikings spent more time hearing from referees during the week so they'd hear less from them on Sundays.

Coach Leslie Frazier said he approached the Vikings' ownership group before the season about hiring referees to officiate practices, after he'd got the idea from the coach of another team. The owners were receptive to the idea, and Frazier believes it's one of the biggest reasons the Vikings' penalty numbers are so much better.

It's little things like this that make me think Frazier is doing just as much growing as the team is, he's been much better managing players, hired a much better DC this year, keeping young team steady. I know the lack of emotion can be frustrating but I think it has a calming influence on the team.

Only three 2012 teams committed fewer penalties than the Vikings at 90. Frazier preaches endlessly about playing smart, tough, disciplined football and the results in Year 2 suggests players are buying in.